Education
Lecturers, VC Tackle NUC Over CCMAS
University of Lagos (UNILAG) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, last Wednesday led academics in requesting for full autonomy to be given to universities to make choices.
This is against the backdrop of the controversy over the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
She urged NUC and ASUU to arrive at a positive outcome on the controversy hovering around Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) and Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS).
Her words: “I think what we want is the autonomy. We want the autonomy to choose exactly what we do and we will get there. We have a lot of new universities and maybe some of our older universities need less support than others.
“I think NUC is on the right part, but I understand where ASUU is coming from. We really want full autonomy. We would get there. I think we are on the right part. I think if we sit down together, some of these things would be resolved.
I also think there has been some misunderstanding.
“The initial BMAS was very restrictive. It was essentially a curriculum that was handed over. The CCMAS has given a little more lead way for universities to own their own curriculum.
“Both the BMAS and the CCMAS are still needful. From what NUC had said, they would constantly reduce their involvement in the BMAS.
“There’s BMAS in everywhere in the world. Just that ours was a little quite restrictive. What essentially they have been doing is reducing the restrictions, but we can still do better.
Also, an Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, UNILAG, Dr Tony Okeregbe, described the university as a learning field, not practical field. He added that the practical aspect of the curriculum does not sit well with higher institutions.
“NUC should have sensitised universities before carrying that project. Thereafter, it should have called some respected stakeholders in tertiary education to discuss the modalities before carrying out the new development. On their own part, they might think they might have done it.
“The template they brought to different universities somehow undermines the very meaning and intention of university education.
Their intention of bringing this is to make university as practical as possible. But they forget the university education is not as practical nor skill and expertise inclined.
“While we subscribe to their view that young people need skills, the kind of the skill they are talking about is different from what the university should provide. If you are talking about practical skills, you can do that anywhere, not in the university,” he noted.
To a professor of Philosophy, Prof. Douglas Anele, CCMAS is incomplete and inferior to the older BMAS. He also described it as an imposition of institution’s Senate body.
His words: “As a former Head of Department, we did a curriculum review in my department.
The curriculum we are running is superior to the one NUC is bringing.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.